Hindus’ migration no exodus: Pakistan leaders

Refusing to call Pakistani Hindus’ migration to India an exodus, Pakistani parliamentarians have blamed the Taliban for the upheaval. A 17-member Pakistani delegation, including 12 parliamentarians, crossed over to India on Wednesday for talks with their counterparts in India.

Refusing to call Pakistani Hindus’ migration to India an exodus, Pakistani parliamentarians have blamed the Taliban for the upheaval.

A 17-member Pakistani delegation, including 12 parliamentarians, crossed over to India on Wednesday for talks with their counterparts in India.

Sabir Ali, deputy chairman of the Senate, said, “Hindus are not being ill-treated by the majority community in Pakistan. I think the migration has picked up because of Talibanisation. Even Muslims in our country are fed up with the Taliban.”

Denying allegations of forced conversions and kidnappings, Ali said, “Issues related to minorities have already been raised in Parliament. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has formed a committee to look into the allegations levelled by Hindus. Pakistan is serious about the matter and I am confident that all Hindus will return.”

Senator and Leader of the House Muhammad Jehangir Bader said, “We are here for talks with our counterparts on bilateral issues. The main aim is to increase people-to-people contact and understand each other’s problems.”

“Both nations need to tackle terrorism and other problems together. Priority should be given to trade for boosting economy,” Bader added.

He said there was no threat to minorities in Pakistan. “There may be some problems, but we can solve them,” Bader said, adding that there was an international mafia which did not want amicable ties between India and Pakistan. “This mafia has no religion, no country and no face,” he added.

Nafeesa Shah, National Assembly member from Sindh, said, “Minorities are an important part of Pakistan. They play an important role and have a great sense of patriotism. We are committed to solving their problems.”

About forced conversions, Shah said, “If a Hindu girl gets married to a Muslim in Pakistan, she has to be given time to think about conversion.”